Anah Shriners convene in Bangor
6/20/09 | 6 comments
Update

Anah Shriners convene in Bangor


Vote on children's hospital closures looms in July
By Jessica Bloch
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KEVIN BENNETT
Abi Sinclair of Brewer gets a high five from one of several Anah Shrine clowns along Main Street in Bangor on Saturday, June 20, 2009 during the Anah Temple Shrine Parade. With Abi is her father John Bapst High School Athletic Director Rick Sinclair. Buy Photo

BANGOR, Maine — There were clowns, bands and the Keystone Kops, but what really got Lexi Leeman of Bucksport excited was the cars.

“I liked them because they drove around the orange [cones],” the 6-year-old said as the Anah Temple Shrine parade wound down Saturday morning on Main Street near Bass Park.

Leeman and her parents, David and Christy Leeman, her sister Jade, 4, and 15-month-old brother, Mason, were invited to attend the parade by family friend Sara Robshaw.

The parade was part of the 2009 Anah June Ceremonial, a four-day summer convention being held in Bangor this year.

While the clowns, lobster boats, go-carts and flag-bearers provided a diversion for onlookers, more pressing issues were weighing on the mind of Illustrious Potentate Norris Nickerson of Holden, who was elected to the leadership position in January.

The Shriners organization is gearing up for the July 5-9 Imperial Council Session in San Antonio. At that time, attending members will vote to decide whether the Shriners will have to close six of their 22 hospitals in North America known for treating children with ailments such as burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip and palate, and orthopedic conditions.

More than 865,000 children have been treated in the 86 years that the Shriners have had hospitals, according to the organization’s Web site.

One of the orthopedic-specializing hospitals being considered for closure is in Springfield, Mass., and is the closest such facility to most of Maine. There is a burn-care Shriners facility in Boston.

Nickerson said financial conditions may force the closures. In the last year the Shriners’ endowment has dropped from $8.5 billion to $5.5 billion.

“We’re looking for any methods to not have to close any hospitals,” he said after the parade. “We’re looking at different means, such as third-party claims, things of that nature, looking at ways to be cost-effective.”

Should Springfield close, Nickerson said, it is likely the Shriners would be forced to regularly send children to facilities in Philadelphia or Montreal. The organization pays travel costs for children to go to its hospitals.

“That’s a much longer route and more expense,” he said.

Shriners will vote on closing hospitals at a meeting.

Nickerson is concerned, he added, that Shriners members without hospital experience will vote with emotion and worry about keeping a facility in their area rather than voting for the good of the larger organization.

“There’s been an awful lot of research done on [the closures], and I hope people will look at what’s being presented to them and understand the whole picture before they vote,” he said. “I’d rather see a vote of true professionals running hospitals who know the most cost-effective means.”

Although a forecast of rain showers Saturday may have kept large crowds away from the Main Street parade route, Nickerson said the Anah Shrine’s Bangor parades typically don’t bring out a lot of people.

“I think there are so many parades that happen in Bangor in comparison to the smaller towns,” he said. “When the Shrine comes [to small towns] they just open the doors wholeheartedly. It’s a big thing for them, whereas here there is a lot more going on. [But] there was a pretty good crowd [on Saturday]. I was happy with it.”

Of course, those concerns weren’t on the minds of the Leeman children. Jade Leeman said her favorite part of the parade was the clowns, especially Bo-Bo, who is portrayed by Donald Young of Hudson.

“I like his hat,” she said. “It’s silly.”

Young, who has been involved with the Anah clowns for around 24 years, said that kind of reaction keeps him motivated.

“I enjoy working with kids, and I enjoying working with people in general, socializing with people,” said Young, who wears a blue hat with a yellow flower. “It’s a rewarding experience.”

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Comments
6 comments on this item
On 6/20/09 at 5:20 PM, Cre8RoyalPalm wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It is unfortunate that the most proactive organizations in the world today of its kind, one of them, the Shriner's, are in jeopardy of closing some of their hospitals. Reference made to paragraph 5 and 6, in the article. No need to elaborate on the meaning of what these hospitals mean to the United States. If consolidation is likely, then so be it. Equipment and possibly some staff members could be relocated as a measure to retain key and other employees who hold scope-of-practice responsibilities, in an effort to be cost-effective and continue to conduct the critical-care need for these unfortunate kids when in time of their need.

As a Mason, I personally can support the Shriner's. I recall as a child, these parades, and all that the Shriner's put into them. Their work continues wholeheartedly, and without selfishness!

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On 6/21/09 at 8:46 AM, know_it_all wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I hve attended many, many parades in downtown Bangor and have been none too impressed by any of them. Eighteen wheelers, pickup trucks, and penny candy thrown about to a throng of screeching kids is pathetic. The Shrine parade was a PARADE! It was wonderfully orchestrated with go carts, clowns, Keystone Kops and a modest show of convertible cars and light musical groups. For those who missed this parade, you must seek out the next one if there is one. Congratulations to the Shriners for showing Bangor how to run a parade! Donate to this group what you can. Save these hospitals for children!

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On 6/21/09 at 8:06 PM, Cre8RoyalPalm wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"know_it_all", I never make it a point to comment on "news" stories, but thank you for your input to this story.

It is so true that Bangor has mediocre to low-interest, (at best), parades. The City (of Bangor) has incorporated several downtown events, new to the entertainment and civic functions that the great folks of Bangor and its environs well-deserve. The question I have is, are parades a requirement? It is true, local schools, businesses and others march in "traditional parades", but as I said, do we need them? What about planned, one-day events, say, held in the current (old) Bangor Auditorium out on Main Street near the BDN operations building, and for Christmas or other special occasions; why not hold the functions indoors and out of the elements? Seems to me that vendors would bring in lots more money for the sale of various types of food, etc., and with free, no-charge entrance and parking, what more could you ask for. Santa could also make his/her appearance. Tons of time and money could be saved on making "floats" and renting or donating trucks and other vehicles and certainly, the parade marchers as well as onlookers would not freeze watching the parade or get soaking wet in the snow or rain. Oh, well, just a passing thought today.

The Shrine - Anah Temple Shrine Parade would be certainly a "keeper". It is a perfect time of year, much like the 4th of July parade, or the Memorial Day parade (if you have that). But for goodness sakes, City of Bangor, cannot you do more with those parades that should and could be events, rather than the same hum-drum (yawn) thing year, after year, after year, after year, after year, after year... Good point, "know_it_all"!

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On 6/22/09 at 8:36 AM, NorthernMaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

These hospitals do SO much good! There is a lot put into these parades, people from all over come to entertain and watch. Sometimes in all the hoopla we loose sight of the bigger picture, its all for the kids. Thats why we all do what we do, we come from all over just to try to help a little, and anything that anyone can do for these hospitals is a HUGE help. I know Bangor has a lot going on and maybe this parade isn't the most exciting thing ever to hit it, but try to remember its not about the clowns or the go karts, its about the kids------- Give what you can so we don't have to close one single hospital...

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On 6/22/09 at 9:56 AM, Bangorian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Too bad this wasn't better advertised, I would have liked to have gone. Bangor's parades are bad - there's more of an emphasis on having them be big than there is on having them be interesting. As a result, it's just a long string of 18 wheelers, oil trucks and fire engines. Having kids I can tell you that the parada is usually stingy on the candy.

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On 6/22/09 at 4:29 PM, FoundpeaceinNH wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

As a Mason's daughter and a former Rainbow Girl, I would like to say that this parade is one of the best that Bangor has offered. Only problem is...the Shrine Parade takes place in the City/Town where the Potentate is from. Until we get another from Bangor, there will only be those lame parades. Check out the Bangor Shriner's website, it will give you information on things such as these, I think. I don't know the address, but Google it. I'm sure you will find it.

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